CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities.
Recent Stories
Soap Lake School District approves '24-25 budget
SOAP LAKE — While Soap Lake School District officials expect to have the equivalent of 455 students from kindergarten through high school during the 2024-25 school year. The Soap Lake School Board approved the budget at a special meeting July 29.
Primary voters choose gubernatorial, congressional candidates
Both major parties frustrated with lack of voter turnout for Tuesday election.
MOSES LAKE — Washington voters chose candidates for governor, U.S. Senator and House of Representative seats, along with other state offices, in the primary election Tuesday. Grant and Adams County voters each cast ballots for two county commission races.
Changes planned for Wahluke elementary schools
MATTAWA — Elementary school will look a little different in the Wahluke School District this fall. District officials will divide elementary students by grade levels with each of the three elementary schools housing different grades.
Hourathon fundraiser brings in $100K to support MLSD students
MOSES LAKE —The total kept climbing – about $44,000 after half an hour. Ten minutes later Moses Lake High School and Vanguard Academy students had broken the $50,000 barrier and then some. “Fifty-five thousand, one hundred (dollars),” said Manny Melo, who was keeping track of the running tally during the “Hourathon” Monday night in the MLHS gym. “Nice work.”
Moses Lake man arrested in connection with November murder
MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man has been apprehended in California by the U.S. Marshal’s Service in connection with a November 2023 murder in Montlake Park.
Primary ballots due today
Commissioners, other offices on Grant, Adams election rosters
EPHRATA/RITZVILLE — Voters will narrow the field for a number of state offices in the primary election, but most local offices only have one or two candidates. Ballots must be returned today by 8 p.m. or postmarked with today’s date.
New Soap Lake superintendent happy to be back, focused on wise budgeting
SOAP LAKE — New Soap Lake School District Superintendent Angela Rolfe said she and her administration are focused on responsible budgeting and that she's glad to be back in the district. “The Soap Lake School District has really always felt like home to me, so I was really excited to be able to come back,” Rolfe said.
Energy production focus of Newhouse visit
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners met with US Congressman Dan Newhouse Thursday to discuss the permitting process for a small modular nuclear reactor and some of the challenges and concerns that come along with the project. Newhouse also toured the Port of Moses Lake to discuss the need for energy and how to produce it.
Wahluke balances budget
Declining enrollment leads to reduced income, fewer staff and options
MATTAWA — The Wahluke School District will not have to use any of its reserves for operations in the 2024-25 school year, but declining enrollment required staff reductions to meet that target. For 2024-25, the district general fund is budgeted at about $50.92 million. The general fund pays for most school operations, from staff salaries to buying supplies.
ROAD REPORT: Soap Lake streets projects underway
Other transportation projects continue statewide
SOAP LAKE — Curbs and gutters are going in along a section of Soap Lake streets that provide access to East Beach Park. The curbs and sidewalks are part of an upgrade to the streets next to the park, which includes paving sections of First Avenue Northeast and North Canna Street.
Othello pool issue requires transparency, committee chair says
OTHELLO — Chris Dorow said he wants the process followed by the community group looking at options for a possible new Othello swimming pool to be as transparent as possible. Dorow is the chair of the “Aquatic Task Force,” which was formed after city officials announced the pool would not open in 2024 due to damage that may have been caused by faulty construction. The damage was discovered in April.
New QVMC about halfway to opening day
QUINCY — After 11 months, the new Quincy Valley Medical Center is about halfway to its opening day. Groundbreaking on the project was September 2023, and Project Manager Joe Kunkel said the new QVMC will be open for business early next summer.
‘Hourathon’ fundraiser Monday to support MLSD athletics, activities
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake High School students will be on the phones Monday evening raising as much money as they can to help pay for extracurricular activities in the 2024-25 school year. Students will be setting up in the MLHS gym and hitting the phones from 7 to 8 p.m.
Othello pool issue remains undecided
OTHELLO — A report detailing the damage to the Othello Community Swimming Pool should be delivered to city officials in a few weeks. Othello Mayor Shawn Logan said the pool was evaluated July 26 by an engineer with the city’s insurance company.
Othello council accepts annexation request
OTHELLO — A request to annex about 750 acres into the city of Othello along Bench Road will be considered by the Othello City Council. Council members voted to allow Skone and Connors Partners LLC to move forward with its request at its July 22 council meeting.
Two Moses Lake gravel streets to be paved
MOSES LAKE — Sections of two gravel roads in Moses Lake will be paved with storm drains, curbs, gutters and sidewalks added next month. A contract for about $798,800 for the work was awarded July 9 to Hurst Construction, Wenatchee. The project also includes site preparation for additional streetlights and other infrastructure improvements.
Exterior, interior construction on schedule at new Samaritan Hospital
MOSES LAKE — Exterior insulation is almost installed, the exterior water barrier is making its way around the building, and windows are being installed in some sections of the new Samaritan Hospital. “There is a lot of work going on right now,” said Abram Jenks of the Klosh Group, the consultants working with Samaritan Healthcare on the construction of the new hospital. “There are over 180 people (working on site).”
Some road projects done, others still in progress
VANTAGE — At midsummer, many road construction projects are winding down, done or almost done, while longer-term projects are in high gear.
Yonezawa roundabout construction could start mid-2025
MOSES LAKE — A new roundabout could be coming to the intersection of Yonezawa Boulevard and State Route 17 sometime in 2025, the preliminary step to development of property on the east side of SR 17. Moses Lake city officials will apply for additional funding to help pay for the project later this year.
Samaritan Healthcare in black for first half of 2024
MOSES LAKE — Even with the additional expense of construction, increased staff costs and additional bad debt, Samaritan Healthcare is in reasonable financial shape. Samaritan generated a profit of about $1.15 million in June, and for the first six months of 2024, Samaritan was $1.67 million in the black, according to hospital district staff.
Moses Lake council accepts sleep center grant
MOSES LAKE — The city of Moses Lake will continue to operate the Open Doors Sleep Center, but Moses Lake City Council members want more information on the city’s options in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision issued last month. Council members voted 5-2 Tuesday to accept an emergency housing grant which will provide funding through July 2025. Council members Dustin Swartz and Victor Lombardi voted no.
Blankenship still has projects to see through, he says
RITZVILLE — Dan Blankenship said he decided to run for a second term as Adams County Commissioner because there’s still work he wants to do. “I’ve got some projects that I’ve gotten started that I just want to see through,” he said. “I think my skill set still applies to the job. I think we’re having some successes.”
Revisions proposed to Othello home-based business ordinance
OTHELLO — The Othello Planning Commission will have a public hearing Aug. 19 to take public comment on a proposal to revise the ordinance governing home businesses.
Weise looks at balancing needs, resources if reelected
RITZVILLE — Jay Weise said he planned to run for a second term as Adams County Commissioner when he was elected in 2020, because it takes a while to learn the job and do it effectively. “There’s a whole bunch of stuff you don’t know,” he said.
JR Simplot donates $50K to CAA
Students, parents and coaches turn out to show appreciation.
MOSES LAKE — The word went out from coaches and advisors - the JR Simplot company was stepping up to help out the Moses Lake School District extracurricular program with a $50,000 donation. The coaches and advisors suggested the students should turn out to show their appreciation.
Major upgrades coming to Westshore Drive next summer
MOSES LAKE — Drivers who use Westshore Drive can get an overview of the work planned for spring 2025 along Westshore Drive, and get their questions answered, at a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Moses Lake Country Club, 1373 at Road F.2 NE.
Upgrades included in Quincy 6-year parks plan
QUINCY — New playground toys, more park benches and picnic areas in most Quincy parks, a new park on Sixth Avenue Northeast and new baseball and softball fields with lights are among the components of the city’s updated comprehensive parks, recreation and open space plan.
Yonezawa roundabout workshop set
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake residents are being invited to an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Moses Lake Civic Center to learn more about a proposed project to build a roundabout at Yonezawa Boulevard and South Pioneer Way.
Rivard wants changes to Adams Co. government
OTHELLO — Adams County Commission candidate Hank Rivard said he believes county government should be run differently. Rivard is running against incumbent Jay Wiese. “There are a lot of things that need changing,” Rivard said.
Road construction scheduled in Soap Lake
SOAP LAKE — Crews have started work on two major street improvements in Soap Lake, and a third is scheduled to start next month. The installation of a lighted crosswalk at Southeast Third Avenue and South Daisy Street (State Route 17) has been completed.
Small cities in Grant Co. see crime trending down
MOSES LAKE — The communities are smaller, so the incidents are fewer, and the percentage changes look more dramatic. But cities in Grant County are for the most part following the same trend in declining crime as the rest of Washington.
Grant PUD fiber buildout scheduled for October completion
EPHRATA — The buildout of the Grant County Public Utility District fiber network should be complete by late October.
Transparency, accountability critical, incumbent commissioner says
EPHRATA — Rob Jones said he’s running for a second term as Grant County Commissioner because there are some important initiatives coming up and projects he wants to see through.
Crime trending down in Othello, Ritzville
OTHELLO — With a few exceptions crime in Othello and Ritzville is following the statewide trends - crime rates are going down. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs released its 2023 report last week, which included data for most cities statewide, including both Adams County cities.
Fire district proposals, commission races to be decided in Grant Co.
EPHRATA — Grant County voters will receive ballots this week for the primary election Aug. 5. Two county commission seats, two requests for increased fire district levies (called a levy lid lift) and one fire district EMS levy will be on the ballot in addition to federal and state offices.
Local legislators, bipartisan politicians call for reason in wake of attempted assassination
MOSES LAKE — Seeking ways to reduce the political temperature in a presidential election year, how to apply lessons learned in other political forums, improving security during a presidential campaign are among the topics being discussed by federal and state legislators following the attempted assassination Saturday of former President and Republican nominee Donald Trump.
‘When will it end?’
Hot weather set to hang out across Columbia Basin this week.
MOSES LAKE — Yes, yes, it’s summer and hot weather is to be expected. And yes, hot sunny days are what everyone is thinking about in January when it’s 15 degrees and dark by noon, or so it seems. But still - at this point in the heat wave, there’s one question on everyone’s mind.
Crime trending down in Moses Lake, Ephrata
MOSES LAKE — Crime trends in Moses Lake and Ephrata seem to be following the rest of the state - they went down between 2022 and 2023. A report on crime trends throughout the state, including individual cities, was released last week by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
Work scheduled for SR 26 this week
OTHELLO — Drivers should plan for delays along State Route 26 between Interstate 90 and Othello for about a week beginning Tuesday.
Crime mostly down in Grant and Adams, report says
EPHRATA — While crime went up in some individual categories in the unincorporated areas of Grant and Adams counties between 2022 and 2023, overall it was on a downward trend, according to information released Tuesday by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
Ephrata intersection closed Tuesday for bridge work
EPHRATA — Drivers should plan alternate routes to get in and out of downtown Ephrata next Tuesday as Washington Department of Transportation crews work on the bridge over the railroad tracks at the intersection of state Route 282 and state Route 28.
Ephrata-Soap Lake Ag Boosters in need of donations
EPHRATA — Organizers of a fund to support 4-H, Grange and FFA participants from Ephrata and Soap Lake at the annual stock sale during the Grant County Fair said the fund needs donations.
Burgess says planning for growth part of Grant Co. Commission's job
MOSES LAKE — Grant County Commission candidate Kevin Burgess said county and city governments need to think ahead when planning for growth. Burgess is running for the seat in Commission District 1; Danny Stone, the incumbent, did not file for reelection.
Budget approved for first phase of new Othello animal shelter
OTHELLO — A new animal shelter is in the works for the city of Othello. The Othello City Council approved a $340,000 budget for the initial phase of the construction at its regular meeting Monday, after some discussion of options, landscaping, philosophy and cost.
Statewide crime mostly down, still higher than 2019
LACEY — While crime in most categories declined in Washington between 2022 and 2023, crime rates are still higher than they were in 2019. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs released crime data for 2023 Tuesday.
Nation’s birthday draws big crowd to Othello
OTHELLO — It was a good day for a birthday party. Othello residents and visitors turned out for the parade and filled Lions Park for the annual July 4 celebration - games, a car show, sports tournaments, food, live music, fireworks - sponsored by the Othello Chamber of Commerce.
Moses Lake council postpones EMS presentation
MOSES LAKE — A presentation by owners of Lifeline Ambulance to the Moses Lake City Council scheduled for tonight’s council meeting has been postponed. Mayor Dustin Swartz said Monday he didn’t know when it might be rescheduled. “(Lifeline representatives) have met and had conversations with staff,” Swartz said.
Contract awarded to clean up property south of Mattawa
MATTAWA — A piece of derelict property south of Desert Aire is scheduled for cleanup with the work to be completed by Aug. 23. Grant County Commissioners awarded a contract for $81,150 to Groat Brothers, Woodinville, to remove, among other things, tires and abandoned cars from the land, known as the Engle property.
National Weather Service issues fire weather alerts
MOSES LAKE — Hot weather and windy conditions will lead to an increased potential for wildfires at least through Thursday, according to information from the National Weather Service Monday.
Record-breaking heat this week
MOSES LAKE — The heat wave that was supposed to end by midweek is going to behave like an unwanted guest - stay around longer than first anticipated and leave very slowly.